Vacuum cleaner filter

ABSTRACT

A filter for use in a vacuum cleaner for preventing introduction of foreign objects into the fan and electric motor of the air flow means. The fan and motor are carried in a portion of the housing which defines a pervious support having an integral retainer element adapted for removably securing a filter pad in overlying relationship to the support for effectively preventing passing of foreign objects into the fan and motor.

United States Patent 1191 FlSl'l 1 1 Mar. 18, 1975 [54] VACUUM CLEANERFILTER 2,776,726 1/1957 Brace 55/DlG. 3 X 1 1 11116111011 Fish, WhiteBear Lake, 5:333:11? Z1323 32312121711111:13111131311353? 3,524,211-8/1970- Wolf 55/1310. 3 x [73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, BentonHarbor, Mich. Primary ExaminerFrank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-WilliamCuchlinski, Jr. [22] 1974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-HOfgren, Wegner,Allen, [21] Appl. No.: 433,916 Stellman & McCord 52 1 11.5. c1 55/372,15/327 D, 55/472, 1 1 RA T 55/482 55/494 SS/DIG' 3 A filter for use in avacuum cleaner for preventing in- [51] I111. Cl. BOld 46/10 troductionof foreign Objects into the fan and dectric [58] Field of Search 55/372,472, 49.1, 494, motor of the air flow means The fan and motor are55/495, 501, DIG. 3, 440, 482; 15/327 D carried in a portion of thehousing which defines a pervious support having an integral retainerelement [56] References cued adapted for removably securing a filter padin overly- UNITED ST ES P S ing relationship to the support foreffectively prevent- 1,395,833 11/1921 Kling et a1. 55/491 X ing passingof foreign objects into the fan and motor. 2,672,210 3 1954 White 55/3722.721.625 10 1955 Lagerstrom 55/D1G. 3 X 10 Claims, 3 Drawmg FiguresVACUUM CLEANER FILTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and in particularto filters for use in vacuum cleaners.

2. Description of the Prior Art In conventional vacuum cleaners, air iscirculated through the electric motor for cooling the motor. The coolingair is flowed to the motor by means of the suction fan which sucks thedirt laden air into the dirt collecting bag or receptacle. It isdesirable to provide some means for effectively preventing passing offoreign objects, such as hairpins or the like, into the fan and electricmotor to prevent serious damage to this structure.

A number of different filter arrangements have been provided in vacuumcleaners heretofore. One type of filter used in such a vacuum cleaner isillustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,6.72,2l of H. B. White wherein a filter I22 is provided covering a bulkhead 19 having a plurality of openings 21upstream of the dirt collecting bag 23. In the White suction cleanerconstruction, the support 19 for the filter 22 is apparently welded tothe outer shell of the suction cleaner. The bag is held to the bulkhead19 by a male element 28 engaging a female element 32 secured to thebulkhead to also hold the filter 22 to the bulkhead.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,466 of C. E. Nyberg, a piece of felt I9 isretained across the fan housing by a rubber band to prevent dustentering the motor and fan unit 15.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends a vacuumcleaner construction having an improved filter means for preventingforeign objects from passing into the fan and motor of the air flowmeans. More specifically, the invention comprehends providing in avacuum cleaner having a housing portion defining an air flow passagehaving an inlet, air flow means carried by said housing portion fordrawing air through said inlet and including motor means disposed inheat transfer association with the drawn air, filter means forpreventing foreign objects from passing through the inlet to the motormeans thereby to prevent damage to the motor means by the foreignobjects, the filter means comprising a substantially rigid pervioussupport extending transversely across the inlet and formed integrallywith the air flow passage means and a retainer element formed integrallywith the air flow passage means and defining a retaining shoulderoverlying the support. A removable pliant filter pad overlies thesupport and is retained thereto by a portion of the filter disposedbetween the retainer and support.

The retainer element may be disposed substantially centrally of thepervious support, and in the illustrated embodiment comprises a T-shapedelement upstanding integrally from the support.

The support may be upwardly convex to correspondingly support the pliantfilter pad and may have an annular peripheral channel underlying thecircumferential edge of the filter pad. An annular seal may be providedextending between the air flow means and the channel means for causingsubstantially all air drawn through the inlet of the air flow passage tobe drawn through the air flow means and to pass in heat transferassociation with the electric motor.

In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum cleaner comprises acanister-type vacuum cleaner with the housing portion comprising aportion of the canister base.

The filter means of the present invention is extremely simple andeconomical of construction while yet providing the highly desirablefeatures discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner having a filter meansembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof with the cover removedillustrating the installation of the filter pad in the filter means; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment ofthe invention as disclosed in the drawing, a vacuum cleaner generallydesignated 10 is shown to comprise a canister-type vacuum cleaner havinga housing 11 provided with suitable wheels 12 and a carrying handle 13.The handle is provided on a base portion 14 of-the canister with accessto the interior of the canister being provided by a removable coverportion 15.

The base portion 14 defines a forward space 16 in which iS.'t6C6iV6d adirt collecting bag 17 wherein dirt is collected from air flowed throughthe bag from an inlet tube 18 to an air moving means generallydesignated 19 provided in the rear portion of the base 14 as shown in"FIG. 2.

More specifically, as best seen in FIG. 3, air moving means 19 includesan air flow means 20 herein coinprising a fan 21 driven by an electricmotor 22. Air flow means 20 is disposed within a tubular housing portion23 of the canister base 14 which upstands from the wall 24 to define anupper, open end 25 opening to a raised, rear portion 26 of the canistercover 15 for receiving air passed through the dirt collecting bag 17 andconducting the air to the fan 21 within housing portion 23. Housingportion 23 further defines an outlet opening 27 for passing the cleanedair to atmosphere at the rear of the canister.

Air flow means 20 is supported on a bracket 28, in turn, carried onshoulders 29 provided on the housing portion 23 within the air flowpassage 30 defined by housing portion 23. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, fan21 is disposed subjacent the inlet opening 25 for drawing air throughthe inlet opening and flowing it over the drive motor 22 in heatexchange relationship therewith before discharging the drawn air throughthe outlet opening 27. Fan 21 may be sealed to the tubular housingportion 23 by an annular seal 31 to prevent recirculation of airdischarged by fan 21.

As indicated above, a filter generally designated 32 is provided forpreventing a passing of foreign objects into the fan and drive motorduring operation of the vacuum cleaner. The filter means includes asubstantially rigid pervious support 33 extending across the inletopening 25, and in the illustrated embodiment,

formed integrally with the housing portion 23. A peripheral portion 34of the support defines a downwardly opening channel 35 receiving thesealing element 31, and an upwardly opening channel 36. A pliant filterpad 37 such as an open cell foam material is removably installed inoverlying relationship on the support with a peripheral portion 38thereof overlying an upwardly opening channel 36. In operation, airpassing through the filter tends to hold pad 37 firmly against channelthus substantially precluding air flow from bypassing around the edge ofpad 37. The filter pad includes a central opening 39 adapted to fitunder a T- shaped retainer element 40 disposed at the center of support33. As shown, retainer element 40 may comprise an integral portion ofthe support 33. The upper surface 41 of support 33 may be convexupwardly, as shown in FIG. 3.

Opening 39 in the filter pad is preferably substan tially smaller thanthe transverse extent of the arms of the T-shaped element 40 so that thefilter pad is retained by the T-shaped element with the center portionof the pad underlying the legs thereof in the installed arrangement, asshown in FIG. 3.

Thus, the filter 32 is extremely simple of construction eliminating theneed for separate fasteners while yet effectively preventingintroduction of foreign material into the fan and motor of the airmoving means 19. The filter pad may be readily removed for cleaning orreplaced when desired while yet the T-shaped retainer 40 effectivelyretains the pad in overlying relationship to the support 33 in theinstalled arrangement thereof.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

Having described the invention, the embodiments of the invention inwhich an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined asfollows:

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion defining an air flowpassage having an inlet, air flow means carried by said housing portionfor drawing air through said inlet and including motor means disposed inheat transfer association with the drawn air, filter means forpreventing foreign objects from passing through said inlet to said airflow means thereby to prevent damage to said air flow means by saidforeign ob jects, said filter means comprising: a substantially rigidpervious support extending transversely across said inlet and formedintegrally with said air flow passage means; a retainer element formedintegrally with said air flow passage means and defining a retainingshoulder overlying said support; and a removable pliant filter padoverlying said support and being retained thereto substantially solelyby a portion of the filter disposed between said retainer element andsupport and the air drawn through the filter pad by said air flow means.

2. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainerelement is disposed substantially at the center of said support.

3. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainerelement comprises a T-shaped element upstanding from said support.

4. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainerelement is formed integrally with said support.

5. The vacuum filter means of claim 1 wherein said support is upwardlyconvex.

6. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said supportdefines an annular, upwardly opening peripheral channel underlying thecircumferential edge of the filter pad, the air passing through thefilter pad urging the pad firmly against the support along said channeland'thereby substantially precluding air from bypassing around thecircumferential edge of the filter pad.

7. In a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion defining an air flowpassage having an inlet, air flow means carried by said housing portionfor drawing air through said inlet and including motor means disposed inheat transfer association with the drawn air, filter means forpreventing foreign objects from passing through said inlet to said airflow means by said foreign objects, said filter means comprising: asubstantially rigid pervious support extending transversely across saidinlet and formed integrally with said air flow passage means; a retainerelement formed integrally with said air flow passage means and defininga retaining shoulder overlying said support; a removable pliant filterpad overlying said support and being retained thereto substantiallysolely by a portion of the filter disposed between said retainer andsupport and the air drawn through the filter pad by said air flow means;and means for sealing the air flow means to said housing portionadjacent said pervious support for causing substantially all air drawnthrough said air flow means to be discharged from said vacuum cleanerand thereby urge said filter pad against said support to effectivelypreclude removal of said filter portion from between said retainer andsupport.

8. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 7 wherein said supportdefines an annular peripheral channel underlying the circumferentialedge of the filter pad, the air passing through the filter pad urgingthe pad firmly against the support along said channel and therebysubstantially precluding air from bypassing around the circumferentialedge of the filter pad.

9. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 7 wherein said vacuumcleaner comprises a canister type vacuum cleaner having a base portionand said housing portion comprises an integral portion of said baseportion.

10. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 7 wherein said vacuumcleaner includes a dirt collecting bag spaced substantially from saidinlet, and means for conducting the drawn air through the dirtcollecting bag before delivery thereof to said inlet of said air flowUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,871,847Dated March 18, 1975 Inventor(s) WARREN H. FISH It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

rv a Column 4, Claim 5, line 6, after "vacuum" insert cleaner.

Signed and Sealed this twenty-fourth Day Of February 1976 Q [SEAL]Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (mnmissiuner oj'Parentsand Trademarks

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion defining an air flowpassage having an inlet, air flow means carried by said housing portionfor drawing air through said inlet and including motor means disposed inheat transfer association with the drawn air, filter means forpreventing foreign objects from passing through said inlet to said airflow means thereby to prevent damage to said air flow means by saidforeign objects, said filter means comprising: a substantially rigidpervious support extending transversely across said inlet and formedintegrally with said air flow passage means; a retainer element formedintegrally with said air flow passage means and defining a retainingshoulder overlying said support; and a removable pliant filter padoverlying said support and being retained thereto substantially solelyby a portion of the filter disposed between said retainer element andsupport and the air drawn through the filter pad by said air flow means.2. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainerelement is disposed substantially at the center of said support.
 3. Thevacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainer elementcomprises a T-shaped element upstanding from said support.
 4. The vacuumcleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainer element is formedintegrally with said support.
 5. The vacuum filter means of claim 1wherein said support is upwardly convex.
 6. The vacuum cleaner filtermeans of claim 1 wherein said support defines an annular, upwardlyopening peripheral channel underlying the circumferential edge of thefilter pad, the air passing through the filter pad urging the pad firmlyagainst the support along said channel and thereby substantiallyprecluding air from bypassing around the circumferential edge of thefilter pad.
 7. In a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion defining anair flow passage having an inlet, air flow means carried by said housingportion for drawing air through said inlet and including motor meansdisposed in heat transfer association with the drawn air, filter meansfor preventing foreign objects from passing through said inlet to saidair flow means by said foreign objects, said filter means comprising: asubstantially rigid pervious support extending transversely across saidinlet and formed integrally with said air flow passage means; a retainerelement formed integrally with said air flow paSsage means and defininga retaining shoulder overlying said support; a removable pliant filterpad overlying said support and being retained thereto substantiallysolely by a portion of the filter disposed between said retainer andsupport and the air drawn through the filter pad by said air flow means;and means for sealing the air flow means to said housing portionadjacent said pervious support for causing substantially all air drawnthrough said air flow means to be discharged from said vacuum cleanerand thereby urge said filter pad against said support to effectivelypreclude removal of said filter portion from between said retainer andsupport.
 8. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 7 wherein saidsupport defines an annular peripheral channel underlying thecircumferential edge of the filter pad, the air passing through thefilter pad urging the pad firmly against the support along said channeland thereby substantially precluding air from bypassing around thecircumferential edge of the filter pad.
 9. The vacuum cleaner filtermeans of claim 7 wherein said vacuum cleaner comprises a canister typevacuum cleaner having a base portion and said housing portion comprisesan integral portion of said base portion.
 10. The vacuum cleaner filtermeans of claim 7 wherein said vacuum cleaner includes a dirt collectingbag spaced substantially from said inlet, and means for conducting thedrawn air through the dirt collecting bag before delivery thereof tosaid inlet of said air flow passage.